Archive for graph

Once again, it’s job creation time! Which means it's also time to bring back that sexy economic data source, the Bikini Graph! This time around, we learn that this is the sixth straight month of job growth, something that hasn't happened since 1997. That sound you hear is the GOP demanding President Obama's impeachment for allowing this to happen on his watch. Da noive!

As always, red columns point to monthly job totals under the Bush administration, while blue columns point to job totals under the Obama administration.

Via Steve Benen at The Maddow Blog, more on the new report from Bureau of Labor Statistics, including how we added 209,000 jobs in July:

The overall unemployment rate ticked slightly higher to 6.2% – still hovering around a six-year low. (This is one of those times when an uptick is good news, not bad, since more people are entering the workforce looking for jobs.)

Once again, public-sector layoffs did not drag down the overall employment figures [...] All told, over the last 12 months, the U.S. economy has added over 2.57 million jobs overall and 2.48 million in the private sector. What’s more, July was the 53rd consecutive month in which we’ve seen private-sector job growth – the longest on record.

At this point, with the year about half over, 2014 is currently on track to be the best year for U.S. job creation since 1999.

The labor market extended its best streak since the late 1990s, posting solid job growth last month that lured more people back into the workforce. [...]

And the [unemployment rate] rise was for a good reason: The labor force grew by 329,000 last month as many people who had left the job market — and so weren't being counted in the unemployment rate — returned. That caused the labor force participation rate to inch up for the first time in five months, to 62.9%, from its lowest level since 1978. [...]

The economy grew at a robust 4% annual rate from April through June, the Commerce Department said this week... Personal income also increased 0.4% in June, the same pace as in May. And July was one of the best months in years for motor vehicle sales, automakers said Friday.

We're on our way. Unless, of course, the GOP decides to continue to block Democratic jobs and infrastructure bills... which is a given. It looks like we'll have to keep growing the economy and employment in spite of them.

Before we get to the jobs news o' the day, how's about a little upbeat update from everyone's favorite news source, the always reliable Fox Biz, hmm? Via an email alert:

The blue-chip average broke past the 17000 mark for the first time in history as traders cheered a strong jobs report. The Dow is up 58 points, or 0.35%, to 17035.

And this happened on whose watch again? Oh yeah.

President Obama is the worst. Socialist. Ever.

Now on to Ye Olde Bikinie Graphe, because, yes, once again, it’s job creation time! Which means it's time to bring back the really-not-so-old Bikini Graph! This time around, the conclusion is that "few expected the data to be this good." That sound you hear is the protesteth too mucheth from the moutheths of the GOPeth:

As always, red columns point to monthly job totals under the Bush administration, while blue columns point to job totals under the Obama administration.

Via Steve Benen at The Maddow Blog, more on the new report from Bureau of Labor Statistics, including how we added 288,000 jobs in June, "well ahead of forecasts." The unemployment rate is now at 6,1%, which is the lowest it's been since September 2008. That's six-- count 'em, six-- years ago. Last fall, it was a full point higher. At one point, we were at 10% (thank you, BushCo).

Benen even manages to squeeze in some excellent Benghazi!!!! snarkitude:

For the fifth consecutive month, public-sector layoffs did not drag down the overall employment figures. Though jobs reports over the last few years have shown monthly government job losses, in June, the private sector added 262,000 while the public sector added 26,000. The latter may not sound like much, but after several years in which that total was negative, it’s heartening. [...]

Overall, the report suggests the jobs landscape is clearly improving, which is no doubt proof that American employers are in on the conspiracy to distract Americans from Benghazi.

All told, over the last 12 months, the U.S. economy has added over 2.49 million jobs overall and 2.43 million in the private sector. What’s more, June was the 52nd consecutive month in which we’ve seen private-sector job growth – the longest on record.

At this point, with the year about half over, 2014 is currently on track to be the best year for U.S. job creation since 1999.

Benen is also reporting that this is "actual" good news, because "job creation was strong, even as the labor force grew. This is, in other words, how people rooting for the economy want to see the jobless rate drop."

But my favorite part was this: "There’s no point in cherry picking because all of the news is good."

Once again, it’s job creation time, which means it's time to bring back the Bikini Graph! This time around, the conclusion is that the economy is "plodding along steadily." Per an email alert from everyone's favorite, most trustworthy news source ever, the Labor Department said the economy has now recovered all 8.7 million jobs lost during the Bush recession.

As always, red columns point to monthly job totals under the Bush administration, while blue columns point to job totals under the Obama administration. Via Steve Benen, more on the new report from Bureau of Labor Statistics:

[T]he U.S. economy added 217,000 jobs in May, which is almost exactly what economists expected. The overall unemployment rate, meanwhile, remained at 6.3% – still at its lowest point since September 2008, nearly six years ago.

For the fourth consecutive month, public-sector layoffs did not drag down the overall employment figures. [...]

All told, over the last 12 months, the U.S. economy has added over 2.38 million jobs overall and 2.36 million in the private sector. What’s more, May was the 51st consecutive month in which we’ve seen private-sector job growth. The year isn’t quite half over, but 2014 is currently on track to be the best year for U.S. job creation since 1999... now tied for the longest streak on record, matching a streak from Clinton’s second term.

You know what to do, right? Say it with me: When in doubt, blame Obama.

That headline up there? I shamelessly stole that-- well, except for the Blame Obama part-- from the Maddow Blog's Steve Benen, because it pretty much rocks.

Let's start with some email alerts I received today about the economy and unemployment numbers. Where are the jobs, indeed.

Via everybody's favorite source of the most accurate news reporting anywhere ever (tongue firmly implanted in cheek), Fox (Fox Business to be exact):

Unemployment in April fell to 6.3 percent, from 6.7 percent, as the economy added 288,000 new jobs.

The U.S. economy added 288,000 jobs in April, surging past the 210,000 jobs Wall Street expected, marking the biggest increase since January 2012. The jobless rate fell by 0.4 percentage point to 6.3%, its lowest level since September 2008. The labor force participation rate fell to 62.8% from 63.2% in March.

Where are the jobs?

Peek-a-boo! Here they are!

So once again, it’s job creation time, which means it's time to bring back the Bikini Graph!

As always, red columns point to monthly job totals under the Bush administration, while blue columns point to job totals under the Obama administration. Via Steve Benen, more on the new report from Bureau of Labor Statistics:

For the third consecutive month, public-sector layoffs did not drag down the overall employment figures. Though jobs reports over the last few years have shown monthly government job losses, in April, the private sector added 273,000 while the public sector added 15,000. The latter may not sound like much, but when you get used to that total being negative, it’s a breath of fresh air.

These are, of course, preliminary numbers that will be revised, but at this point, April appears to be one of the best months for the U.S. job market since before the Great Recession began. [...]

All told, over the last 12 months, the U.S. economy has added over 2.36 million jobs overall and 2.37 million in the private sector. What’s more, April was the 50th consecutive month in which we’ve seen private-sector job growth.